Jim Zehren of Lake Oswego wrote about how he dealt with his Verizon rebate card. It wouldn't let him drain his balance unless the transaction matched the amount remaining on the card. "I went to a gas station and asked them to put in EXACTLY $32.66 worth of gas -- no more and no less -- and, thank God, it worked!" Zehren wrote. Too bad it has to come to that.

Mike of Camas, Wash., wanted to know why I didn't just cash in my Electrolux card. "C'mon, you know better," he wrote.

My answer: I couldn't. Unlike a check, some rebate cards can't be redeemed for cash. You must swipe to spend. Yet another hitch to these cards.

Interestingly, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation in April pushed Sears, Staples Inc. and T-Mobile USA Inc. to change their rebate-card practices. Staples and T-Mobile agreed to give consumers the choice of receiving rebates by check or card, according to the office. T-Mobile customers in Oregon and Washington have the same options, a spokesperson said. The cards can be taken to any VISA-member bank to be cashed.

"Sunday evening: I (Dick) am reading The Sunday Oregonian. Specifically, I'm reading Brent Hunsberger's It's Only Money column. Wow! He's covering the whole rebate-card scheme. I spy the Electrolux card illustration and suddenly I'm rapidly inhaling/exhaling because I know that Electrolux owns the Frigidaire trademark, and I also know that last week Joan got a VISA card from Frigidaire that she promptly cut into four neat pieces and tossed in the trash under the sink. 'I just don't need another VISA card!" she had stated with managerial finality.'

"'That card you got from Frigidaire,' I stammered. 'That was your rebate.'

"Next scene: Both of us on our knees outside the garage combing through bins. And praying too.

"Found: The neatly-cut-into-four-pieces Frigidaire rebate card. Never activated, of course. Now what?

"Joan calls the card's customer service number, speaks with a very pleasant Diane who assures us that we aren't the first to do what we did. And yes, she will send Joan a new card. Fee: $5 to be subtracted from the balance.

"We think Brent's column should be renamed: It's Only A LOT OF Money."